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Ranking Austin’s fitness
Guess where Austin falls on the latest fitness poll, this one by the American College of Sports Medicine’s American Fitness Index?
Ninth place.
That makes it the highest ranking Texas city on the list. Dallas is next closest, at 35th place. San Antonio comes in 39th and Houston is 41st.
The Washington, DC area topped the list. Minneapolis-St. Paul and Denver came in second and third. To see the whole list, go here.
Austin ranked 19th on community/environmental indicators related to the built environment, recreational facilities, park-related expenditures, physical education requirements and primary health care providers. It ranked fourth on personal health indicators related to health behaviors, chronic health problems and health care.
Huh?
All these lists are so subjective! How can you rank a city’s fitness, anyway?
Austin could definitely use more parks, but have you ever checked the trail around Lady Bird Lake? Packed with walkers and runners, especially on the weekend. We should get bonus points for that.
Then again, our bike infrastructure could use some improvement and we’ve got lots of Tex-Mex food and beer joints. Slash a few points there!
Thoughts, people?
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By stevear
May 29, 2009 1:14 PM | Link to this
So how does Tex-Mex food diminish fitness? You’re saying all of it is unhealthy? Five of the top 9 fit cities are loaded with Mexicans and their cuisine; is their something particular about Texas AND Mexicans that is spoiling Austin’s ranking? The number of fast food joints around here is BETTER than Tex-Mex? Where’s your rationale for blaming poor fitness on Mexican’s and their food?
By Pam LeBlanc
May 29, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this
Hi Steve! Just sayin’ that cheese, tortilla chips, groud beef and sour cream isn’t exactly the best way to fuel a workout. Neither is a burger and fries. Cheerio!
By stevear
May 29, 2009 2:46 PM | Link to this
I wasn’t aware that Texas-Mexican food mainly included these four items; good to know the statesman has the low-down on regional culture. Incidentally, in the right proportions, the unhealthy food you mention can certainly provide good carbos and lean protein; I bet the high quality booze Austin guzzles and the heat is the real culprit and NOT Texas-Mexicans.
By Pam LeBlanc
May 29, 2009 3:26 PM | Link to this
We’re talking ingredients not cultures, Steve. And you can still swim when it’s hot out, so I don’t think you can blame the heat for lack of fitness.
By stevear
May 29, 2009 4:03 PM | Link to this
Food IS a huge part of any culture; the ingredients for Tex-Mex food do NOT merely consist of the four items your article mentions unless you eat at Taco Bell. And you really can be healthy eating that junk too!
All of the Tex-Mex joints i frequent include way more than 4 items. You’ve denegrated every Texas Mexican and you don’t even know it!
Ask someone on your floor…they’ll break it down.
By Pam LeBlanc
May 29, 2009 4:12 PM | Link to this
Steve. I never said those are the four only ingredients in TexMex. Like it or not, some food is healthier than other food. Interior Mexican food (think more rice/beans/veggies and less cheese) is healthier than TexMex, for example. I always get a better workout when I eat more fruits/veggies/fish than when I eat a plate of cheese enchiladas. Just the way it is.
By stevear
May 29, 2009 5:00 PM | Link to this
So Tex-Mex food is one of the causes of our ill-fated fitness and not lame-o’s who can’t push a plate of cheese enchiladas away? Give me a break.
By pam leblanc
May 29, 2009 5:40 PM | Link to this
Sigh. Exercise AND nutrition play a role in fitness. Pam
By David
June 3, 2009 8:58 AM | Link to this
I just say we are more efficient at using our parks and trails compared to other cities. There sure are a ton of bikers, joggers, walkers, kayakers, swimmers, frisbee players, soccer players etc. in town. Who pays attention to rankings anyway, right?
With tht said, we could use an expanded bike system and the Parks Dept. could always use more funding.
By MikeW
June 4, 2009 12:21 AM | Link to this
9th! not bad at all, but I think we can do better! I guess we’ll never catch Minneapolis since they have such almost-year-round great weather (for cross-country skiing).
Steve, as a long distance runner, and regular client of a local sports nutritionist, I have to agree with Pam on Tex-Mex not being the healthiest food around. I’m a person born and raised in Mexico, with tons of family there, and I do not take offense to what Pam suggested in her article/post.
NO ONE would ever recommend that you go and carbo-load or have your pre-long run/bike/brick meal at Maudie’s or Chuy’s. However, I’ll be the first to park my car in their parking lots when I’m done with my workouts! Mmmmmm…. queso!